Occupation The scholarly Sumner attended Yale College and graduated in 1863. In the late 1860s, he was an Episcopalian minister, but in 1872, he took Yale University’s chair of Political Economy. Sumner soon became Yale’s first professor of sociology. He was a very influential teacher and wrote many influential books and essays throughout his time, mainly about history, economics, politics, sociology, and anthropology. The avid sociologist became the Vice President of the Anti-Imperialist League after the Spanish-American War.
Position on Issue William Graham Sumner, Vice President of the Anti-Imperialist League, strongly opposed the annexation of the Philippines. He thought imperialism went against many American principles and ideals, especially those of equality and simple government. He thought that government efforts at reform in territories like the Philippines would be completely useless and ineffective. Sumner believed that imperialism, including the annexation of the Philippines, would only hold negative consequences for the United States.
Interest in Topic Sumner’s life was built mainly on sociology. He wrote many essays and books against imperialism and found it both morally wrong and useless. He feared that imperialism might create more harmful plutocracy in America. William Graham Sumner was very involved in the issues of American imperialism.
The scholarly Sumner attended Yale College and graduated in 1863. In the late 1860s, he was an Episcopalian minister, but in 1872, he took Yale University’s chair of Political Economy. Sumner soon became Yale’s first professor of sociology. He was a very influential teacher and wrote many influential books and essays throughout his time, mainly about history, economics, politics, sociology, and anthropology. The avid sociologist became the Vice President of the Anti-Imperialist League after the Spanish-American War.
Position on Issue
William Graham Sumner, Vice President of the Anti-Imperialist League, strongly opposed the annexation of the Philippines. He thought imperialism went against many American principles and ideals, especially those of equality and simple government. He thought that government efforts at reform in territories like the Philippines would be completely useless and ineffective. Sumner believed that imperialism, including the annexation of the Philippines, would only hold negative consequences for the United States.
Interest in Topic
Sumner’s life was built mainly on sociology. He wrote many essays and books against imperialism and found it both morally wrong and useless. He feared that imperialism might create more harmful plutocracy in America. William Graham Sumner was very involved in the issues of American imperialism.
Works Cited
"William Graham Sumner." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 13 Nov. 2012. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Graham_Sumner>.
Sumner, William G. “The Absurd Effort to Make the World Over.” The Witherspoon Institute. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nlnrac.org/critics/social-darwinism/documents/the-absurd-attempt>.
Sumner, William G. "The Conquest of the United States by Spain." W. G. Sumner. Molinari Institute, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. <http://praxeology.net/WGS-CUS.htm>.